CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Companion

Rating:
Summary: CSI Companion is a must read!!!
Review: For anyone wanting to know in depth information on each episode, this is the book for you! Filled with wonderful insights from actors and producers. Actual quotes from actors on scenes and their characters.

5 stars easily!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best series episode guides I've read.
Review: For the most part I always seem to be disappointed in episode guides for a good deal of the series I watch. The author rarely looks at the show from a fan perspective, but from an objective stance that delivers plenty of facts about production and storylines, but leaves characterization in its dust.

Not so with this guide by Flaherty, in which he manages to find a good balance, appealing to technical junkies and character enthusiasts alike. Beautifully laid out, the book is broken down into sequential chapters, each one outlining both the procedural and personal elements of every episode dating back to the Pilot, and ending with the third season finale, Inside the Box. Each chapter ends with a backstory section of sorts, where interviews with producers, writers, and actors shed some light on behind the scenes occurences (and character motivations) that had remained unknown until the publication of this book.

Detailed biographies give more information about the characters than four years of episodes, and the art in the book is really first rate compared to most guides out there. This book rivals some of the later, really well put together X Files official guides.

A really nice surprise is how we learn that several storylines, including the ongoing romantic tension between Grissom and Sara, has been a part of the writers' plans since the beginning, and William Petersen (Gil Grissom) provides insight into his character and his relationships that has been hinted at lightly at best.

Expecting a 'Just the facts ma'am' case-intensive look at the show, this book really surprised me in such a positive way. It's full of details, insights, amusing ancedotes, and 299 nicely laid out pages. A must own for any CSI fan.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent overview; background on the stories, actors, etc.
Review: I am trying this again, as my first review got lost, before I could save it. Sorry.
This companion to the popular CBS hit show, features an excellent overview of the actors, characters, stories, etc..
One complaint, the picture of Gary Dourdan, Warrick Brown on the show, was printed over the text of the "personnel file", which it wasn't on the others (maybe this can be corrected in a future printing). It's great for fans, like me, of the show, or anyone who is curious. I enjoyed the "glossary" at the back. Some of the photos are gruesome, but this is a gruesome business, crime scene investigation. It covers seasons 1-3. [This review isn't the one I tried to submit, but an error caused it not to be saved, sorry, hope it provides an incentive to buy this excellent book].

Rating:
Summary: The CSI Companion Guide is for all CSI Fans
Review: This is a spectacular book for all CSI fans that covers Seasons 1 - 3. Each episode is summarized in order of airing for each season with highlights of the case, investigator(s) involved, evidence found and tests performed (DNA, autopsy, facial reconstruction, fingerprinting), suspect and victim information, and the status of the case, i.e. solved, unsolved. If more than one case is handled during the episode, each plot is summarized separately, going between the cases as they do on the show.

Some case summaries include a couple pages of graphical information relating to the case and provide more details, such as investigator reports, evidence and chain of custody tags, evidence and DNA test results, investigative reports, etc. Some of the contents of these pages are difficult to read but give you an overall picture of the actual "case file".

Then on blue tinted pages, the producers, directors, writers and actors make comments on the episode. There is some great information on how some scenes were filmed for maximum effect. Actors also provide insight to their characters as they relate to that particular case and in general. This is really nice since for the most part there is not much character history on the show. It's also in these pages that we learn that some of the cases are based on real life cases by one of the writers.

It is also mentioned by writers and actors (William Petersen and Jorja Fox) that the sexual tension between the characters of Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle has been part of the plans from the beginning of the show. Also, details are provided of how certain scenes and dialog are planned out for specific episodes to highlight that tension.

There is also a character profile provided for each of the main characters of the show. This profile gives background information of each of the characters, including family history, education, work history and other pertinent personal information.

I give this book "two thumbs up".